Praxis 5001 Practice Exams Practice Question
Scenario/Extract:
At about 11 PM On Christmas, Washington's army commenced its crossing of the half-frozen river at three locations. The 2,400 soldiers led by Washington successfully braved the icy and freezing river and reached the New Jersey side of the Delaware just before dawn. The other two divisions, made up of some 3,000 men and crucial artillery, failed to reach the meeting point at the appointed time.
-"Washington Crosses the Delaware," from the History Channel Web site
Christmas, 6 PM... It is fearfully cold and raw and a snow-storm is setting in. The wind is northeast and beats in the faces of the men. It will be a terrible night for the soldiers who have no shoes... but I have not heard a man complain... December 26, 3 A.M. I have never seen Washington so determined as he is now. He stands on the bank of the stream, wrapped in his cloak, superintending the landing of his troops. He is calm and collected, but very determined.
-Diary of Colonel John Fitzgerald, December 25 and December 26. 1776
Which of the following best describes a benefit of having students read both excerpts?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Option A highlights the importance of distinguishing between primary and secondary sources, allowing students to analyze their characteristics and purposes. This skill is crucial for critical thinking and understanding historical context.
Option B, while relevant, focuses too narrowly on comparing facts and emotions, which is just one aspect of source analysis.
Option C emphasizes understanding different perspectives, but it doesn’t specifically address the unique qualities of primary versus secondary sources.
Option D, though important, pertains more to evaluating reliability than to the specific benefit of reading both types of excerpts.
Unlock All Questions
Subscribe to Premium for full access to all practice questions, detailed rationales, and performance tracking.
Subscribe Now